22 
Mr. Smithson’s chemical Analysis 
In the experiment with the crystals of carbonate of zinc from 
Derbyshire, 14,-35 grs. of calx of zinc furnished indeed only 
26.8 grs. of arid vitriol of zinc ; a deficiency of about occa- 
sioned probably by some small inaccuracy of manipulation. 
2. When the simplicity found in all those parts of nature 
which are sufficiently known to discover it is considered, it 
appears improbable that the proximate constituent parts of 
bodies should be united in them, in the very remote relations to 
each other in which analyses generally indicate them ; and, an 
attention to the subject has led me to the opinion that such is 
in fact not the case, but that, on the contrary, they are univer- 
sally, as appears here with respect to arid vitriol of zinc, fractions 
of the compound of very low denominators. Possibly in few 
cases exceeding five. 
The success which has appeared to attend some attempts to 
apply this theory, and amongst others, to the compositions of 
some of the substances above analysed, and especially to the 
calamine from Bleyberg, induces me to venture to dwell here 
a little on this subject, and state the composition of this cala- 
mine which results from the system, as, besides contributing 
perhaps to throw some light on the true nature of this ore, it 
may be the means likewise of presenting the theory under cir- 
cumstances of agreement with experiment, which, from the 
surprising degree of nearness, and the trying complexity of the 
case, may seem to entitle it to some attention. 
From this calamine, containing, according to the results of 
the experiments on the Mendip Hill kind, too small a quantity 
of carbonic acid to saturate the whole of the calx of zinc in it, 
and from its containing much too large a portion of water to 
be in it in the state of mere moisture or dampness, it seems to 
